TCharlz’s “Mon Tshirt Vert Pomme” is an avatar of charisma. It’s a shade too dark for twee, but three shades too bright for me to simply label it as “pop.” Suffice it to say, my first impression is one of pleasant surprise, and I can’t help but admire a guy who writes a song this good about his favorite green t-shirt of all things.

The track’s effectiveness is no accident. TCharlz’s structure is sound. Very sound. The intro and verse ride upon continually ascending and descending minor chords. There are pauses, playful keyboards, and simple bass lines to encourage and assure you every step of the way that, yes, this is indeed a remarkably marvelous time you’re having bopping your head along to a French tune whose lyrics remain foreign to you.

Nevertheless, the message is in the melody: this is what it means to meet with a woman for the first time with confidence, despite doubt and self-consciousness, despite nights spent worrying over every physical flaw and emotional disfigurement. There’s a lucky shirt in your life, don’t you know? And that break in “Mon Tshirt,” that deep breath before the first knock on her apartment door, it’s there as well. The rest is up to you.

Which is perhaps why I find myself so enamored with this song. That whole “the rest is up to you” part is what gets me every time. But now I push play and hear the words of a man capable of acting—actually acting!—on his instincts. He does not shy away from flirtation. He takes every chance and seizes every opportunity (even though he only has a demo to his name).

It’s no wonder I find myself instilled with newfound dynamism and a belief that tonight will be different. Tonight I’m grabbing my favorite green t-shirt and seeing about a girl. Hopefully luck is on my side.

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